Something of a mixed weekend... The inspiration for this build took up a fair proportion of our time - memory loss & not eating properly/taking medication is taking its toll... However, I managed another 4 1/2 hours on the build.

At this point the modeller switches away from the running gear to building the basic bodyshell. The tank former also carries the coal plate brackets and these are thin sticky-up bits! Whilst the basic folds make up a neat box, the front and inner front sides to the coal bin also need to be folded. I started with the rear folds and worked my way forward. On reaching the front folds, reason deserted me! The right-hand side went well - the front and inner front need to tuck under the top. For some reason on the left hand side I bent them round the top, and did not realise my mistake until I had soldered the unit to the footplate and started to add the tank wrapper. I'll show what I mean later.

Next to be added is the 'tank top overlay'. Out with the RSU. The easiest way to do this would be to lay the parts upside down and sweat them together - but remember the sticky-up bits! In the end I did just that - carefully bending the 'sticky-up bits' so they became 'sticky-out bits'!

The unit is now soldered to the footplate. The etched tabs and slots were perfect. The tabs are bent over under the footplate so I must remember to check clearances etc. My guess is they will be perfect also. The various mounting holes for items such as the tank filler, fire iron rest etc are then drilled through. I've merely made registration holes at present - the holes will be opened to size later.

These two views show the progress thus described.

Next to be added was the tank wrapper. This requires the tank-top flare to be preformed. I used a lngth of steel rod for the former, and MF thoughtfully provides a check-jig. However, once soldered in place, it was fairly obvious when checking with prototype photos that I've been far too conservative! The wrapper was again sweated in place - the base unit has large cut-outs to minimise the heat-sink effect and having well tinned both parts I found they went together easily enough with my trusty temperature-controlled iron. Again I started at the back and worked my way forward soldering each side in alternate steps. Amazingly, the left-hand size fitted perfectly, but the right-hand side is about 0.5mm too long!

The final overlay to be added was the interior of the coal bin - and it was here that the afore-mentioned error reared it's head. I had to split the three-sided etch, soldering the back and left side as one unit, having carefully filed the back right edge and the right-hand side's back edge (does that make sense?) to ensure a reasonable fit!

The images show the progress to date - the encircled area shows the mistake! Ignore the apparent gap along the upper edge of the coalbin wrapper - it gave me a shock when I first saw the image, but having checked the model I'm happy that it was just a trick of the light... Honest!

I'm currently back at work on 'earlies' so little progress will happen this week. The 'Royal Wedding' would have offered the perfect excuse ofr disappearing down the wokshop - but unfortunately I'm head chef (and bottlewasher) for the family celebration barbie. I'm praying for good weather so I can stay out in the garden away from the 'gogglebox'!